The 13th Warrior

The 13th Warrior
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John McTiernan
Produced by	John McTiernan Michael Crichton Ned Dowd
Screenplay by	William Wisher, Jr. Warren Lewis
Based on	Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton
Starring	Antonio Banderas Diane Venora Omar Sharif
Music by	Jerry Goldsmith
Cinematography	Peter Menzies Jr.
Edited by	John Wright
Production company	Touchstone Pictures
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures
Release date	August 27, 1999 (1999-08-27)
Running time	103 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	US$85–160 million
Box office	$61.7 million

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

The 13th Warrior is a 1999 American historical fiction action film based on the novel Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton and is a loose retelling of the tale of Beowulf. It stars Antonio Banderas as Ahmad ibn Fadlan, Diane Venora, and Omar Sharif. It was directed by John McTiernan. Crichton directed some reshoots uncredited. The film was produced by McTiernan, Crichton, and Ned Dowd, with Andrew G. Vajna and Ethan Dubrow as executive producers.

The film was a financial failure. Production and marketing costs reputedly reached $160 million, but it grossed $61 million at the box office worldwide, making it one of the biggest box office bombs in history (23rd adjusted for inflation).

Ahmad ibn Fadlan is a court poet to the Caliph of Baghdad, until his amorous encounter with the wife of an influential noble gets him exiled as an "ambassador" to Northern Barbarians. Traveling with Melchisidek, his caravan is saved from Turkic raiders by the appearance of Norsemen (presumably Varangian). Taking refuge at their settlement on the Volga river, communications are established through Melchisidek and Herger, a Norseman who speaks Latin. Ahmad and Melchisidek are in time to witness a fight, which establishes Buliwyf as heir apparent, followed by the Viking funeral of their dead king, cremated together with a young woman who agreed to accompany him to Valhalla.